Grambling, LA – Grambling State University’s campus has just gotten safer. Four members of the GSU Police Department have attended and graduated from the North Delta Regional Law Enforcement Academy in the past seven months.
Officers Miranda Dees of Ruston and Thomas Harmon of Arcadia, a five-year veteran of the GSU Police Department, began the 14-week academy in April and graduated at the end of June, while officers Rodney Williams of Shreveport, also a five-year veteran, and Brian Gardner of Monroe started in January and graduated at the end of April.
“This is a priority for the university to have certified police officers to better protect the students, faculty and staff,” GSU Interim Police Chief Howard Caviness said. “This is a huge accomplishment for the Grambling State University Police Department and the university as a whole. Although our law enforcement personnel hasn’t increased, training our current staff has and this will greatly benefit our students, faculty, and staff.” Caviness said that high turnover in law enforcement has created a demand for more law enforcement officers. Cadets spend 40 hours a week for 14 weeks to complete training in firearms safety and usage, criminal law and ethics, driving courses, defensive tactics, active shooter situations, investigative tactics, drug recognition, sensitivity training and other topics. One of the graduates, Dees, is the first Caucasian female to become a certified police officer while working at the GSU Police Department. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in history from Louisiana Tech. In the future, Dees plans to pursue a career as a federal law enforcement officer with the FBI or the U.S. Marshals Service. “I spent my undergraduate years working with the police station, so I knew I would be good at police work,” she said. “It was a good experience at the academy. There were some tough moments where it’s important to remember not to give up, but we had great instructors who made sure we got through it.”
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